Floyd Mayweather distances himself from bout with Japanese kickboxer

However, the boxer spoke to CNN in Tokyo after the fight was announced, and at the time he appeared to be on board with the plans, although he said he “didn’t like to call this a fight — I like to call this a special event.”

Mayweather told CNN Talk Asia’s Anna Coren that it had “always been” one of his goals “to go outside the US and compete as a professional in what I love to do.”

At the time he said that the rules for the bout would be decided “within the next couple of weeks,” but said he was “pretty sure it’s going to be, you know, hand to hand combat, boxing, because I’m the A-side,” meaning that his preference would be prioritized.